Visual Arts Society looks towards a future as exciting as this past year

Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre Chairman Ken Talbot and Executive Director Jackie Pendergast talked at Wednesday evening's AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Evening about the The Centre's tremendous successes this year and the direction it is likely to take in 2016. David F. Rooney photo
Revelstoke Visual Arts Centre Chairman Ken Talbot and Executive Director Jackie Pendergast talked at Wednesday evening’s AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Evening about the The Centre’s tremendous successes this year and the direction it is likely to take in 2016. David F. Rooney photo

By David F. Rooney 
The Revelstoke Visual Arts Society eagerly anticipates a future as exciting as this past year.
Executive Director Jackie Pendergast underscored that during its Wednesday evening AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Evening with a quote from French poet, journalist and novelist Anatole France: “To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan but also believe.”
The society’s future was a hopeful but uncertain when it began about 10 years ago. It’s first year budget was only, if my memory does not fail me, only a few thousand bucks,. This past year’s budget saw expenses of $100,249 with net income of $19,569. Membership that first year was probably only a couple of dozen people; last year it was 165 people.
A decade ago we garnered a $40,000 federal grant to overhaul the ventilation and wiring in what was then the old RCMP detachment building. Part of the cell block remains but other than that you would be hard pressed to recognize the old cop shop — especially now that the building’s exterior has been repainted, a paved path has been built to bring passersby to The Centre and the fantastic new garden designed by Gaila Hemphill has been installed. The next additions are a bronze sculpture of swirling leaves this autumn and at some point an atrium-style addition to the gift shop. The Society is seeking a $60,000 Canada 150 grant for that and the CBT has signed a letter of intent to grant the society $30,000 if the Canada 150 application is successful. An additional $30,000 may be required for this project but with three quarters of the funding in place — or nearly so — this project looks almost good to go.
Volunteers from the now-defunct Art Group did most of the initial renovations a decade ago that created the main and side galleries. Visual Arts Society members have contributed a lot of time and effort to many, many projects since 2006 and 2007 and this past year has seen a dramatic increase in volunteer contributions by organizations like the North Columbia Environmental Society, the Ministry of Forests Initial Attack fire crew, the Local Food Initiative folks and just ordinary Revelstokians who understand that The Centre, with over 2,300 visitors last year is becoming a vibrant and exciting cultural and even an economic driver.
At the AGM members also voted three new members to the board of directors. Andrew Stacey, Keri Knapp and Margaret Pacaud join Ken Talbot, Bruce McLachlan, Tina Lindegaard, Pauline Hunt, Donna Naprstek and Mas Matsushita on the board, while Tanis Rebbetoy stepped down. Linda Nixon is the City Council rep on the board.
Here is a photo of some of the volunteers whose efforts helped ensure The Centre’s success last year:
The Visual Arts Centre is an increasingly successful institution with attractive and exciting shows by local and regional artists. Much of that success is due in no small part to the volunteers who contribute their time and efforts to everything from simple cleaning up to hanging the various shows and even doing the books. Many of these individuals were honoured at The Centre's 2015 AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Evening. Here are some of these terrific folks: From left to right in back are David Walker (He made all of The Centre's exhibition posters for the last 10 years), Ken Talbot (He tends bar at all the exhibitions and other functions, oversees the Community Woodworking Studio and is also Chairman of the board) and Garry (I-go-and-get-everyone-coffee) Pendergast; In the middle are Mas Matsushita (He des a bang up job as a show hanger, especially when creative thinking is required by some of the artworks that need to be hung), Chuck Ferguson (He's Ken's right-hand man and makes sure The Centre is clean), Margaret Pacaud (She's a long-time board member and bookkeeper), Jackie Pendergast (She is the executive director who has driven many of the The Centre's successful changes) and Susan Lind (Sue's helps out in a big way at the front desk and as an exhibition organizer); and in front is board member, treasurer and website manager Pauline Hunt. There are other volunteers, of course, but these filks were on hand for this photo op at the AGM. David F. Rooney photo
The Visual Arts Centre is an increasingly successful institution with attractive and exciting shows by local and regional artists. Much of that success is due in no small part to the volunteers who contribute their time and efforts to everything from simple cleaning up to hanging the various shows and even doing the books. Many of these individuals were honoured at The Centre’s 2015 AGM and Volunteer Appreciation Evening. Here are some of these terrific folks: From left to right in back are David Walker (He made all of The Centre’s exhibition posters for the last 10 years), Ken Talbot (He tends bar at all the exhibitions and other functions, oversees the Community Woodworking Studio and is also chairman of the board) and Garry (“I-go-and-get-everyone-coffee”) Pendergast; In the middle are Mas Matsushita (He des a bang-up job as a show hanger, especially when creative thinking is required for some of the artworks that need to be hung), Chuck Ferguson (He’s Ken’s right-hand man and makes sure The Centre is clean), Margaret Pacaud (She’s a long-time board member and bookkeeper), Jackie Pendergast (She is the executive director who has driven many of the The Centre’s successful changes) and Susan Lind (Sue helps out in a big way at the front desk and as an exhibition organizer); and in front is board member, treasurer and website designer and manager Pauline Hunt. There are other volunteers, of course, but these folks were on hand for this photo op at the AGM. David F. Rooney photo